Adam Schefter has reported that the Vikings have given Kirk Cousins a one-year, fully guaranteed $35M extension with two voidable years in it to lower his cap number.
The Vikings decide to keep the stability they have a quarterback with extending Kirk Cousins after all of the trade buzz around him. Many Vikings fans will be upset by this move and many fans will be very happy over the decision. Overall, the Vikings were able to move his cap hit down this season so there is hope that the new Vikings regime will be able to build a contending team around Cousins for the 2022 season.
Kirk Cousins Cap Hit next three seasons:
2022: $31.4M
2023: $36.3M
2024: $12.5M (dead money)
This move shows Vikings fans that Kwesi and Kevin O'Connell are trying to win a Super Bowl in 2022. There would be no reason to extend Kirk and add void years if they were taking the year off trying to build a team for 3 years from now. The new Vikings regime is ready to win and ready to win right now. Now the question is who will Kwesi sign in the offseason and how will Kevin O'Connell's staff maximize the potential of Kirk Cousins and the team around him to go out there and contend for a Super Bowl in 2022.
Now for the Vikings' next moves before Free Agency begins...
Current Cap Space: Roughly $2M
Moves to create Cap Space:
Danielle Hunter restructure- $13.79M
Michael Pierce post-June-1st cut- $8.5M
Eric Kendricks trade- $7.57M
Harrison Smith restructure- $7.45M
Adam Thielen restructure- $7.35M
I think the obvious and most likely decisions here are the restructurings of Danielle Hunter, Harrison Smith, and Adam Thielen. These 3 restructures alone would free up roughly $28.59M in cap space and put the Vikings at about $26.59M in spending for free agency and their draft pick signings.
What are your thoughts on the Kirk Cousins extension? Let me know below.
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